Method of treating and feeding fuel and apparatus therefor



May 1, 1923. I 1,453,977

P. A. HIRSCH METHOD C JF TREATING AND FEEDING FUEL AND APPARATUSTHEREFOR Filed April 22 1921 PAUL A. HIE/SCH, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA,ASSIGNOR TO AER/O PULVERIZER COMPANY, or new YORK, n. $2.,

A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

METHOD OF TREATING AND FEEDING FUEL AND APPARATUS THEREFOR.

Application filed April 22, 1921.

T aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, PAUL A. HmsoH, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, re-

siding at Erie, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in the Methods of Treating andFeeding Fuel and Apparatus Therefor, of which the following is aspecification.

This method and apparatus forming the subject matter of this inventionis designed to pulrerize coal or analogous fuel and immediately feed itfor combustion. One of the principal problems involved is to accomplishthe treatment of the fuel with an expenditure of power which will bemore than compensated by the more perfect combustion as the fuel isburned.

In carrying out the invention the coal is first crushed intocomparatively small particles and then pulverized. Air is utilized incarrying the material through the crusher and pulverizer and this airsupplemented by other air is used for supporting combustion.

I have found that the material may be driven through the pulverizer witha comparatively high-pressure fan of small capacity utilizing a lowpressure fan of large capacity to supplement the air that is driventhrough the pulverizer for supporting combustion. This plan of operationresults in great economy in power consumption.

In carrying out the invention 1 preferably utilize a driving fan and inaddition thereto inclined heaters so as to impel the air and material ina forward direction, thus increasing the movement of air and fuel. Ialso find it advantageous to restrict the air liow to an annular spaceadjacent to the attrition surface. thus reducing the amount of air thatis necessary to be moved. I further find it desirable to make thisannular passage more restricted at the outlet than the inlet in that thematerial as it becmnesfiner may be kept in more intimate relation withthe attrition surface. This results in an acceleration of air andmaterial through the passage so that the material. as delivered from thepulverizer has a velocity Serial No. 463,625.

approximating that with Which it is im pelled in carrying it to thepoint of combustion. This arrangement reduces the power necessary tofeed the fuel and air to the point of combustion to a very largedegree.It will be understood that as a rule there is a supplemental air andimpelling device, such as a fan, for moving the material after it leavesthe pulverizer and With the pulverizer arranged to induce a flow to thefan rather than increase its load the total load in the machine is, asbefore stated, reduced. Other details and objects of the invention willappear from the specification.

The apparatus forming the subject of the invention and by which themethod may be practiced is illustrated as follows Fig. 1 shows a frontelevation, partly in section, of the apparatus.

I Fig. 2 shows a section on the line 2-2 in Fig. 3 a section on the line33 in Fig. 1 involving an alternative construction.

Fig. 4 an end view showing the inlet valve for supplemental air.

5 a section on the line 33 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 an elevation of one of the beater blades showing a cross sectionthereof at different points.

Fig. 7 an alternative construction of beater blades.

1 marks the shaft on which the rotating members of the apparatus aremounted. This shaft is j ournaled in boxes 2-2 carried by the posts 3.The crushing and pulverizing members are arranged within a stationarydrum 4 which is mounted on the posts 5. Material is fed to the drumthrough a chute 5 which enters through. an opening in the head 6. Thecrushing chamber? has the beater made up of the carrier 8 and beaterblades 9. The carrier is locked on the shaft by means of a key 85' Thebeater blades operate through, an attrition surface 10 on which arearranged a series of stationary blades 11. An annular flange 12 extendsinwardly at the outlet side of the chamber 7 so that the crusher bladesoperate to some extent in what may be termed a dead space locked to theshaft 1 by means Fan blades 19 are arranged at the inlet end so far asair movement is concerned. Thus the material before it is carried to theout let is retained by centrifugal force in the outer pocket formed inthe chamber 7 until sufiiciently broken up to pass through the outlet.

The blades 9 are preferably pivotally mounted on the carrier by means ofpins 9 and tend to assume their radial position through centrifugalforce. This may be supplemented, if desired, by the springs 9 By thusyieldingly mountingthe blades they will not be destroyed when materialwhich cannot be crushed is accidentally carried in with the fuel.

- The movement of fuel, from the crusher chamber'isobstructed both bythe inwardly extending; flange 12 and by a screen this screen having athree-eighths to one-half inch mesh. The flange prevents the fuel.enterln'g the pulverizer before it has preliminary crushing and thescreen prevents theentrance of any foreign material which would injurethe pulverizer.

The pulvcrizor is arranged in a chamber 14: leading from tic crusherchamber. d-ruln 15 is mounted on a carrier formed with the flanges 16and hub 17, the hub being: of a key 18.

of the drum, the drum at this slightly off-set from the end end beingher. The material coming; in from the crusher c-l'iamber is thrown.outv. filly by centrifugal force. The air is also put in motion by theseblades which not only tend to move the material outwardly but to carryit'along axially. The. heater blades 30 are mounted on the drum andoperate connection with an attrition surface 21 on the inner wall of thedrum 1. Blades c:-;tend axially along the surface 21 and operate inconjunction with the beater blades in pulverizin}; the fuel.

The drum with carrier confines the movement of air and material to a restrict-ed annular passage ad acent to the attrition surface. Thus thematerial is kept 1 ano and of larger diameter at the outlet end.

As the material enters it tak n. up by the combined fan beater bladesltland thrown outwardly into the entrance of the annular passage betweenthe drum and atof the chamtrition surface. Here the material is given aradial and circi'imferential movement by theaction of the beater bladesand is not only carried forward by the air which is forced by the fan 19but a forward movement of both air and material isci'fected by theinclination of the blades. I have shown the stationary blades asparallel to the axis but it will readily be observed that if the movableand stationary blades operating in conjunction are inclined the. material may be carried forward not only by air current but by theinclination of the blades.

As the material progresses in the pulveriw action the influence ofcentrifugal force becomes reduced and the most eflicient method ofoperatingupon the material chang ll prefer therefore, to form the cute i-'e of the blades at the inlet en slightly beveled and rounded on theadvance face as shown at 20* in. Figure 6. gradually decreasing: thisbeveled and round r surface as indicated at 20 and reversing theinclination and bevel at the outlet so that at the outlet the edge ofthe blade is comparatively sharp as shown at 20". This formation ofblade operates on the material in its different degrees of fineness withthe est cfliciency.

In l ig. 7 a blade 20* similar to the blade 20 is shown but adapted to apassage of equal restriction throughout.

The material. as it is dllvered' from the pulverizer is carried towardthe center of the machine by the head 26 and tl'iroup'h the outletpassage 9,? to a fan chamber 28. A fan 29 is arranged in chamber 28 andfixed on the shaft by means of a key 30. Air delivered the fan chamberrrom through the action of the fan through the outlet passage 31 whichcarries the material to the point of combustion. The amount of air thatshould be carried through the pulverizer to accomplish. the highestetliciency is not sufficient to support combustion. For this reasonadditional air is delivered to the fan tl rouggh an opeuine' which iscon trolled by shutter is slot throiwh screw projects. By tl i a tli unbmeans the shu ter Just be adiusted o he proper ODQlllllgI' to a mit theair necea sarv for combustion.

By giving; to the air and fuel an initial velocity iu-thc pulverircerthe load on the impellin j fanv is very much reduced. .liu actualpractice the power consumption of the apparatus as whole is so muchbelow the added power throu the more perfect com bustion of the fuelover ordinary methods as to make the apparatus a whole of greatadvantage. This is accomplished in a very large measure by forn'iing thefan by thb pressure fan at the outlet.

blades 19 and heaters 20 of small. capacity but at a speed to give arelatively high pressure and providing the added air for combustion by afan, the blades of which have a slower velocity but larger capacity, asthe blades 29. This is accomplished in the present construction bymaking the blades 19 of less radial extent. In actual practice aboutone-eighth of the total air would be driven through the pulverizer andwould produce a. pressure about three times that of the low The drivingforces should be so gauged that the air and material are delivered tothe inlet of the low pressure fan in about the same condition as the airdelivered through the opening 32 so that the uulverizer does not form adrag on the impel ing fan. This scheme of operation results in a verygreat reduction in power required to deliver-fuel utilizing this generalplan.

I/Vhat I claim as new is 1. In an apparatus for treating and feedingfuel, the combination of a crushing chamber; a pulverizing chamberleading from the crushing chamber; a rotary heater in the crushingchamber; a rotary pulverizer in the pulverizing chamber the clearancebetween the walls of the crusher chamber and the beater being greaterthan the clearance between the walls of the pulverizer chamber and therotary pulverizer; and an obstruction between the chambers preventingthe passage of larger particles from the crushing chamber to thepulverizing chamher.

2. In an apparatus for treating and feeding fuel, the combination of acrushing chamber having an annular pocket; a pulverizing chamber leadingfrom the crushing chamber; a beater operating .in the crush ing chamber;said beater operating in said annular pocket neutralizing the drivingforward of the air and material; and a rotary beater in the pulverizingchamber, said beater having means for advancing the ma terial and air.

3. In an apparatus for treating and feed ing fuel, the combination of achamber having an annular imperforate attrition surface; axiallyextending blades on the attrition surface: a rotary beater; abutmentblades on the beater, said blades being arranged spirally and adapted toadvance the material as it is projected from the blades; and means foradvancing the pulverized ma terial and air passing through thepulverizer towards the point of combustion.

4. In an apparatus for treating and feed ing fuel. the combination of achamber hav ing an elongated imperforate attrition surface on animperforate wall free from axial obstructions; a rotary beater operatingin connection with said surface, said beater having blades inclined.circumferentially to advance the material and air; and means foradvancing the pulverized material and air passing through the pulverizertowards the point of combustion.

5. In an apparatus for treating and'feeding fuel, the combination of achamber having an annular attrition surface; a rotary beater operatingin connection with said attrition surface; means comprising an annularaxially extending wall for confining the material to a restricted spaceadjacent to the attrition surface, and means foradvancing the pulverizedmaterial and air towards the point of combustion.

6. In an apparatus for treating and feed ing fuel, the combination of achamber having an annular attrition surface; a rotary beater operatingin connection with said attrition surface; means comprising an annularaxially extending wall for confining the material to a restricted spaceadjacent to the attrition surface, said restriction being greater towardthe discharge end; and meansfor advancing the pulverized material andair towards the point of combustion.

7. In an apparatus for treating and feeding fuel, the combination of achamber having an elongated annular attrition surface; a rotary beaterwithin the attrition surface; means comprising an annular axiallyextending wall for confining the material to a passage adjacent to theattrition surface, said beater having blades inclinedcircumferentiallyto advance the material; and means for advancing thepulverized material and air towards the point of combustion.

8. In an apparatus for treating and feeding fuel, the combination of achamberhaving an elongated annular attrition surface unobstructedaxially; a rotary beater operating inconnection with said attritionsurface; means comprising anannular axially extending wall for confiningthe material to a passage adjacent to said attrition surface; and meansfor advancing the pulverized material and air towards the point ofcombustion.

9. In an apparatus for treating and feeding fuel, the combination of achamber having an elongated annular attrition. imperfo rate surfaceunobstructed axially; abutni'ent blades arranged on said attritionsurface a rotary beater having spirally arranged blades operating inconnection with said attrition surface means comprising an annular axially extending wall for confining the material ad jacent to saidattrition surface; and means for advancing the pulverized material andair passing through the pulverizer towards the point of combustion. I

10. In an apparatus for treating and feeding fuel, the combination of achamber having an annular attrition surface; a rotary beater operatingin connection with the attrition surface, said beater comprising a drumslightly spaced from the surface conpulverizer towards ing fuel, thecombination of fining the material to a narrow passage adjacent to theattrition surface; blades at the inlet end of the drum; and means for advancing the pulverized material and air towards the point of combustion.

11. In an apparatus for treating and feeding fuel, the combination of achamber having an annular attrition surface; a rotary beater operatingin connection with the attrition surface, saidL beater comprising a drumslightly spaced from the surface confining the material to a narrowpassage adjacent to the attrition surface; blades at the inlet end ofthe drum; blades arranged on the drum; and means for advancing thepulverized material andair towards the point of combustioi'n 12. In anapparatus for treating and feeding fuel, the combination of achamberhaving an annular attrition surface; a rotary beater operating inconnection with the attrition surface, said heater comprising a drumslightly spaced from the surface confining the material to a narrowpassage adjacent to the attrition surface; blades at the inlet end ofthe drum; spiral blades arranged on the drum and means for advancing thepulverized material and air towards the point of combustion.

13. In an apparatus for treating and feeding fuel, the combination of achamber having an elongated annular attrition surface unobstructedaxially; blades on said attrition surface; a rotary drum slightly spacedfrom said surface forming with said attrition surface a confined annularpassage; blaces 0n the drum; and means for advancing the pulverizedmaterial and air passed through the pulverizer towards the point ofcombustion.

14,. In an apparatus for treating and feeding fuel, the combination of achamber having an elongated annular attrition surface unobstructedaxially; blades on said attrition surface said rotary drum slightlyspaced from said surface forming with said attrition surface a confinedannular passage; inclined blades on the drums adapted to advance thematerial; and means for advancing the pulverized material andair passedthrough the pulverizer towards the point of combustion,

15. In an apparatus for treating" and feeding fuel; the combination ofchamber having an annular attrition surface; a rotary drum slightlyspaced from the surface forming with the surface a confined passage morerestricted at the outlet than the inlet; blades on the drum inclined toadvance the material; and means for advancing the pulverized materialand air passed through the the point of combustion. 16. In an apparatusfor treating and feeda chamber having an elongated attrition. surface; arotary beater having blades operating in connecbeater operating inconnection with the at-.

trit-ion surface, the blades at the inlet end of the attrition surfacebeing bevelled on the advance side and the blades at the outlet end ofthe attrition surface being under-cut on the advance side; and means foradi' a'n'cing the pulverized material and air towards the point ofcombustion.

18. In apparatus for treating and feeding fuel, the combination of achamber having an attrition surface having axially arranged bladesthereon; a rotary beater having' blades operating in connection withsaid attrition surface, the blades being bevelled on the advance side atthe inlet end of the attrition surface; and means for advancing thepulverized material and air passed through the pulverizer towards thepoint of combustion.

In an apparatus for treating and feeding fuel, the combination of achamber hav ing an attrition surface having axially arranged bladesthereon; a rotary beater having blades operating in connection with saidattrition surface, the blades at the inlet end of the attrition surfacebeing bevelled on the advance side and the blades at the outletend ofthe attrition surface being undercut on the advance side; and means foradvancing the pulverized material and air passed through the pulverizertowards the "point of combustion.

20. In an apparatus for treating and feeding fuel the combination of acrushing chamber, having an annular pocket therein; a rotary beateroperating in the pocket; a pulverizing chamber leading from the crushingchamber having an annular attrition surface unobs icted axially; axiallyarranged blades on attrition surface; rotary beateroperating inconnection with the attrition surface, said beater comprising an annulardrum slightly spaced from the surface forming in connection with theattrition surface a restricted annular passage; spirally arranged bladeson. the drum; fan blades at the inlet end of the drum; a fan chamberleading from the pulverizing chamber; and a fan arranged in the fanchamber.

521. The method of treating and feeding fuel which consists inpulvcrizing the fuel WllllB'COIlfiIlQd in a highly restricted narrowannular walled passage, moving it against 23. The method of treating andfeeding fuel which consists in initially crushing the fuel, thencarrying the fuel to a highly restricted narrow annular walled passagein which the fuel is confined and pulverized while so confined byattrition, the fuel being advanced with air through agencies operatingin the passage, and then carrying the fuel and said air from the passagetowards the point of combustion.

24. The method of treating and feeding fuel which consists in confiningthe material in a highly restricted narrow annular walled passage,pulverizing it while confined within the passage by attrition andadvancing it through the action of air forced into the passage; andadvancing the material w th the air from the passage towards the pointof combustion.

25. In an apparatus for treating and feeding fuel, the combination of apulveri zer comprising a chamber having an attrition surface; heatersoperating in connection with said surface; means for delivering airunder pressure to act on the material to advance the material throughthe pulverizer; and mechanism for adding air to the combined air andmaterial coming from the pulverizer and impelling the same towards thepoint of combustion.

26. In an apparatus for treating and feeding fuel, the combination of apulverrzer comprising a chamber having an attrition surface; heatersoperating in connection with said surface; means for delivering airunder pressure to act on the material to advance the material throughthe pulverizer; and mechanism for adding air to the com- .hined air andmaterial coming from the pulverizer and impelling the'same towards thepoint of combustion, said mechanism effecting a lower pressure than themeans.

27. In an apparatus for treating and feeding fuel, the combination of apulverizer comprising a chamber having an attrition surface; heatersoperating in connection with said surface; means for delivering airunderpressure to act on the material to advance the material through thepulverizer; and mechanism for adding air to the combined air andmaterial coming from the pulverizer and impelling the same towards thepoint of combustion, said mechanism having a greater capacity thanthemeans. I

28. In an apparatus for treating and feed ing fuel, the combination of apulv'erizer comprising a chamber having an attrition surface; heatersoperating in connection with said surface; means for delivering airunder pressure to act on the material to advance the material'throughthe pulverizer; and mechanism for adding air to the combined air andmaterial coming from the pulverizer and impelling the same towards thepoint of combustion, said mechanism having a greater capacity andeffecting a lower pressure than the means. V

29. In an apparatus for treating and feeding fuel, the combination of apulverizer comprising a chamber having an attrition surface; heatersoperating in connection with said surface; means'for delivering airunder pressure to act on the material to advance the material throughthe pulverizer;

and mechanism for adding air to the combined air and material comingfrom the pulverizer and impelling the same towards the point ofcombustion, said means being proportioned to the mechanism to deliverthe material to the mechanism at a pressure approximating the pressureof the supplemental air deliveredto themechanism.

80. In apparatus for treating and feeding fuel, the combination of apulverizer comprising a chamber having an annular attri tion surface;heaters operating in connection with said surface; means comprisingannular axially extending walls for confining the material to arestricted space adjacent to the attrition surface; devices fordelivering air under pressure to said space to advance the material; andmechanism adding air to the combined air and material coming from thepulverizer and impelling the same towards the point of combustion. o

31. In an apparatus for treating and feeding fuel, the combination of apulverizer comprising a chamber having an annular attrition surface;heaters operating in connection with said surface; means comprisingannular axially extending walls for confining the material to arestricted space adjacent to the attrition surface; devices fordelivering air under pressure to said space to advance the material; andmechanism adding air to the combined air and material coming from'thepulverizer and impelling the same towards the point of combustion, thedevices effecting a higher pressure than the mechanism.

32. In an apparatus for treating and feeding fuel, the combination ofapulverizer comprising a chamber having an annular attrition surface;heaters-operating in connection with said surface; means comprisingannular axially extending walls. for confining the material to arestricted space adja cent to the attrition surface; devices for tielivering air under pressure to said space to advance the material; andmechanism adding air to the combined air and material coming from thepulverizer and iinpelling the same towards the point of combustion, thedevices having a less capacity but effecting a higher pressure than themechanism.

33. In an apparatus for treating and feeding fuel, the combination of apulverizer comprising a chamber having an annular attrition surface;heaters operating in corn nection with said surface, said heaters beinginclined to advance the air and material; means comprising annularaxially extending walls for confining the material to a restricted spaceadjacent to the attrition surface; devices for delivering air underpressure to said space to advance the material; and mechanism adding airto the combined air and material coming from the pulverizer andimpelling the same towards the point of combustion, the devices having aless capacity but effecting a higher pressure than the mechanism.

34. In an apparatus for treating and feeding fuel, the combination of apulverizer comprising a chamber having an annular attrition surface,rotary heaters operating in connection with said attrition surface;means comprising annular axially extending walls for confining thematerial adjacent to the attrition surface; a fan car ried with theheaters at the inlet to the pulverizer; and a fan carried with theheaters at the outlet of the pulverizer for advancing material andsupplying air for combustion.

35. In an apparatus for treating and feeding fuel, the combination of a.pulverizer comprising a chamber having an annular attrition surface,rotary heaters operating in connection with said attrition surface;means comprising annular axially extending walls for confining thematerial adjacent to the attrition surface; a fan carried with theheaters at the inlet to the pulverizer; and a fan carried with theheaters at the outlet of the pulverizer for advancing material andupplying air for combustion, the fan at the inlet being adapted to exerta higher pressure than the fan at the outlet.

36. In an apparatus for treating and feeding fuel, the combination of apulverizer comprising chamber having an annular attrition surface;rotary heaters operating in connection with said attrition surface theheaters being inclined to advance the material and air; means comprisingannular axially eintending walls for confining the material adjacent tothe attrition surface; a fan carried with the heaters at the inlet tothe pulverizer; and a fan carried with the heaters at the outlet of thepulverizer for advancing material and supplying airfor combustion.

37. The method of treating and feeding fuel which consists in passingthe same through a pulverizer; driving the same with air under pressure;and receiving and advancing the same with added air impelled with anadded impulse under a lesser pressure.

38. The method of treating and feeding fuel which consists in passingthe same comprising a chamber having an attrition surface; heatersoperating in connection therewith; means for effecting a flow of airthrough the pulverizer to act on the ma terial and to advance thematerial through the pulverizer; and mechanism for'addi'ng air to thecombined air and material after it leaves the pulverizer for impellingthe same towards the point of combustion? 40. In an apparatus fortreating and feeding fuel the combination of a pulverizer comprising achamberhaving an attrition surface; heaters operating in connectiontherewith; means for effecting a flow of air through the pulverizer toact on the material to advance the material and through the pulverizer;and mechanism for adding air to the combined air and material forimpelling the same towards the point of combustion, said mechanismeffecting a lower pressure than the means. 7

4L1. 1n an apparatus for treating and feeding fuel, the combination of apulverizer comprising a chamber having an attrition surface; heatersoperating in connection therewith; means for effecting a flow of airthrough the pulverize'r'to act on thematerial to advance the materialthrough the pulverizer; and mechanism for adding air to the combined airand material and for impelling the same towards the point of combustion,said mechanism having a greater capacity than the means,

42. In an apparatus for treating and feeding fuel, the combination of apulverizer comprising a chamber having an attrition surface; heatersoperating in connection therewith; means for eifectin'g a flow of airthrough the pulveriz'erto act on the material to advance the materialthrough thepu'lverizer; and mechanism for adding air to the combined airand material'and for impelling the same towards the pointof'cornhustion, said mechanism having a greater capacity but effecting alower pressure than it leaves the pulverizer with added air imthe means.pelled With an added impulse, the added 43. The method of treating andfeeding air being in excess of the air used in moving 10 fuel Whichconsists in passing the same the material through the pulverizer. 5through a, pulverizer; driving the same In testimony whereofI havehereunto set through the pulverizer by the action of air; my hand. andreceiving and advancing the same after PAUL A. HIRSCH.

